A framework for process reconfiguration in smart manufacturing environment using a multicriteria decision making and an ontological approach

Flexible Manufacturing Systems have revolutionized Job Shop Productions in manufacturing, addressing some inefficiencies while facing challenges like cost and disruptions. Industry 4.0 technologies are enhancing industrial processes via centralized management without compromising flexibility. Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMS) offer increased responsiveness and flexibility but generate vast data, necessitating online monitoring. Collaboration among specialists is vital, though it may lead to semantic discrepancies due to diverse knowledge backgrounds. Decision-making in reconfigurable manufacturing involves three layers: requirements, smart manufacturing, and decision-making, each prone to semantic heterogeneity issues. Effective decisions entail transferring knowledge across domains and informing relevant departments. This study aims to propose a framework, SRM-OS, merging multicriteria decision-making and ontology for smart manufacturing, addressing reconfiguration challenges. SRM-OS comprises a digital layer with decision-making components and a physical manufacturing layer, integrating multi-criteria techniques for dynamic changes. Test and industrial cases validate the framework's effectiveness in decision-making, configuration optimization, and enhancing efficiency and quality control, resulting in cost reduction and resource utilization improvement. The framework integrates ontology and decision support for robust decision-making, offering a comprehensive solution for smart manufacturing systems.